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Biti hits out at Zanu-PF 'crooks' over CDF funds

by Staff reporter
27 Jun 2013 at 05:31hrs | Views
Finance Minister Tendai Biti hit out at what he called Zanu-PF 'crooks' when was asked on ZiFM radio how he had spent his $50 000 Constituency Development Fund money.

The ZiFM was following up on a Facebook post by Harare Residents' Trust co-ordinator Mr Precious Shumba who requested that Mr Biti should account for the CDF money.

"From several interviews conducted so far, we have every reason to believe that the funds were not transparently used," said Mr Shumba.

Biti lost his cool.

"Ende mukaita zvemangamanga ndinokusuwayi to the m****a (vulgar word) (Lingenza okwamanga ngizali suwa). Wazvihwa here, mukomana? (Uzwile na mfanyana) The three councillors ndovanosaina. I do not involve myself with those things," he said.

He said the funds, amounting to $22 000, were in a bank account.

"Do not make me answer zvinhu zvema stupid people (izinto zama stupid people)," said Mr Biti.

"Look at the money that is used and the money that is in the bank. Do not make me answer zvinhu zvema stupid people. Do not ask me a stupid question. Unofunga ndingabe kamari ikako? Unofunga kuti ndigabe kamari ikako? (Ubona sengathi ngingeba okuyimadlala khonokho) The money is in a bank. We have not used the money. Wakamboinzwa inonzi Harare Residents' Trust?" (Wake wayizwa okuthiwa yi Harare Residents' Trust?)

Biti said he accounted for the money and that he was not a signatory to the account, adding that his name had never been mentioned among the people who abused the CDF.

Biti said the Harare Residents' Trust was a non-existent structure and was made up of Zanu-PF "crooks".

He said he would not account to a non-existent structure and alleged that the reporter had been sent to tarnish his image.

"I know the people who are sending you," he charged.

Source - newswires